The AMEDD Museum Foundation is proud to announce the receipt of an extraordinary grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).  The grant, valued at $480,000, was received in August based on a grant application made by the Foundation staff earlier this year.

Part of the “Save America’s Treasures” program, the IMLS distributed these grants and the matching funds to support the preservation of nationally significant historic properties and collections across America.  In 2019, Congress appropriated funding for the Save America’s Treasures from the Historic Preservation Fund which uses revenue from federal oil leases to provide a broad range of preservation assistance without expending tax dollars.

“IMLS is honored to partner with the National Park Service and other federal agencies to support the Save America’s Treasures program,” said Paula Gangopadhyay, Deputy Director of Museum Services for the IMLS. “The grants to be administered by IMLS will help save endangered museum collections and they represent our agency’s ongoing support and commitment to the preservation of our nation’s heritage. Safeguarding these treasures allows us to reflect on the history of our country, our communities, and the people who came before us.”

You can read more about the Save America’s Treasures program award announcement at this link. https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/-12-8-million-in-save-america-s-treasures-grants.htm

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is a federal organization whose goal is to “advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grant-making, research, and policy development.” The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. Their vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities.  For more information about the IMLS explore their organization at the IMLS website,  www.imls.gov.

Plans are in the works to decide how to best utilize this gift to further the AMEDD Museum Foundation goals for 2020 and beyond.  The grant was based on the Foundation’s request for funds “to provide Public Access and Modernization for the Museum” as part of the ongoing Capital Campaign effort.  Watch for more news on these plans as they become available after review and approval by the Foundation’s Governing Board.